City athlete will exercise voice

Special Olympian will promote program as a Global Messenger.

June 18, 2003|By Sonia Csencsits Of the Morning Call

Orlando Roman of Bethlehem has won numerous awards as a Special Olympian, and now he's ready to move beyond the playing field, step onto a podium and serve as a Special Olympics Global Messenger to spread the word about the athletic program.

"I took three days of training. Now, I will do speeches to recruit new athletes and volunteers," Orlando said.

"I'm not nervous. I know what to do. I am prepared. I look forward to it. I want to represent Bethlehem Special Olympics and tell what it is all about. What we do is great."

Roman is one of the newest members of the Global Messengers program of Special Olympics Pennsylvania. Begun in 1988, the program has trained more than 100 people and helps athletes assume leadership and decision-making positions in Special Olympics. Global Messengers learn Special Olympics facts and history and receive public speaking instruction before going out to speak.

Ernie Martinez, a Bethlehem Special Olympics volunteer since 1990, attended the training sessions with Roman. "He is our third Global Messenger and he is ready to do whatever is needed," said Martinez, who is Roman's mentor.

Roman, 26, came to Special Olympics program as a track and field competitor in 1987. "I decided to expand to more sports," he said. "I was elected to the Hall of Fame in 1995 and was real happy."

The Pennsylvania program provides year-round opportunities for 25,000 people.

Roman takes part in basketball, bowling, floor hockey, volleyball and alpine skiing. "It was very tough to learn skiing," he said. "I went through the first obstacle course when I was 13. Now I go skiing for recreation. I go for fun. It keeps me relaxed and helps me to concentrate."

He will spend the summer training for the fall sports calendar and volleyball competition, then skiing in December.

He graduated from Liberty High School in 1997 and attends Northampton Community College, where he is studying to be a special education teacher's aide. He is a volunteer at Marvine Elementary School in Bethlehem.

"It is very tough. But I still get good grades," he said, "It is important to me."